New York suspends ferry service as Hudson & East Rivers freeze

New York City’s ferry service has been suspended due to Winter Storm Fern, which left the East and Hudson Rivers nearly frozen and created massive ice blocks. Freezing temperatures in the single digits have made ferry operations unsafe, forcing riders to use subways, buses, or cars instead. NYC Ferry cited crew and passenger safety as the top priority while monitoring conditions to resume service once … Continue reading New York suspends ferry service as Hudson & East Rivers freeze

Gunfire and explosions heard near airport in Niger’s capital

Heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early Thursday near Niamey’s international airport in Niger before subsiding within hours, residents reported. Videos showed bright streaks in the sky, large flames, and burned vehicles near the Diori Hamani International Airport, which also hosts an air force base about 10 km from the presidential palace. The cause of the attack and whether there were any casualties remained unclear. Calm … Continue reading Gunfire and explosions heard near airport in Niger’s capital

EU lists Iran Revolutionary Guard as terror organization

The European Union has designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization in response to the regime’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, a largely symbolic move meant to increase pressure on Tehran. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move puts the Guard on the same level as al-Qaida, Hamas, and ISIS, condemning its role in killing thousands of protesters. The U.S. and Canada … Continue reading EU lists Iran Revolutionary Guard as terror organization

Trump weighs Iran strikes to inspire renewed protests, sources say

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military options against Iran, including targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to encourage protesters, following a nationwide crackdown that killed thousands. Sources say he aims to create conditions for “regime change,” though no final decision has been made, and options also include larger strikes on Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. The deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier … Continue reading Trump weighs Iran strikes to inspire renewed protests, sources say

Feminist historian claims Shakespeare was actually a black Jewish woman in new book

A controversial new book claims William Shakespeare was not the true author of his plays, arguing instead that they were written by Emilia Bassano, a Tudor court poet. Feminist historian Irene Coslet contends Bassano, whom she describes as a Jewish woman of Moorish descent, used “Shakespeare” as a pen name because Elizabethan society favored a white male genius. She argues Bassano’s education, cultural background, and … Continue reading Feminist historian claims Shakespeare was actually a black Jewish woman in new book

Spain to grant legal status to 500,000 migrants

Spain’s left-wing government has approved a fast-track plan allowing up to 500,000 undocumented migrants to apply for legal residency, marking one of Europe’s largest regularizations in years. The measure applies to people who have lived in Spain for at least five months by December 31, 2025, have no criminal record, and will allow them to work nationwide under renewable permits. Migration Minister Elma Saiz called … Continue reading Spain to grant legal status to 500,000 migrants

NASA exoplanet probe tracks interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to gauge its spin

NASA’s TESS spacecraft recently captured observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it left the solar system, recording it as a bright, fast-moving dot with a faint tail across a crowded starfield. A 28-hour video compiled from the data shows the comet’s trajectory, though a spacecraft “safe mode” caused a gap in the observations. Scientists hope the dataset will reveal the comet’s activity, dust and gas … Continue reading NASA exoplanet probe tracks interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to gauge its spin

A potentially habitable new planet has been discovered 146 light-years away

Astronomers have identified a potentially habitable, Earth-sized planet named HD 137010 b about 146 light-years away, orbiting a sun-like star with a 355-day year. The planet is estimated to be 6% larger than Earth and may lie within the star’s habitable zone, though its cooler, dimmer star could make surface temperatures similar to Mars, possibly below –70°C. The discovery, made using 2017 data from NASA’s Kepler … Continue reading A potentially habitable new planet has been discovered 146 light-years away

AI Unlocks Hundreds of Cosmic Anomalies in Hubble Archive

Astronomers used an AI-assisted tool called AnomalyMatch to analyze nearly 100 million images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, identifying over 1,300 rare or unusual objects in just two and a half days, more than 800 of which had never been documented. The anomalies included merging galaxies, gravitational lenses, star-forming clumps, jellyfish-like galaxies, and edge-on planet-forming disks, with some objects defying existing classification schemes. Developed by … Continue reading AI Unlocks Hundreds of Cosmic Anomalies in Hubble Archive

Amazon to lay off 16,000 employees after grocery shakeup

Amazon announced it will cut 16,000 corporate jobs, marking the second major reduction in less than six months as the company restructures after pandemic-era hiring surges. Executive Beth Galetti said the layoffs aim to reduce bureaucracy, increase ownership, and streamline management layers, while stressing that large, recurring cuts are not planned. The move follows October 2025 layoffs of 14,000 employees and comes amid CEO Andy … Continue reading Amazon to lay off 16,000 employees after grocery shakeup

Deutsche Bank raided in money laundering probe

Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin were raided by German authorities as part of an investigation into possible money laundering involving the bank’s business relationships with certain foreign companies. The Office of the Federal Prosecutor said the probe targets “unknown individuals and employees” and focuses on potential violations of anti-money laundering reporting obligations. Deutsche Bank confirmed the searches but provided no further details on … Continue reading Deutsche Bank raided in money laundering probe

Tesla tops estimates for quarter

Tesla reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with adjusted earnings of 50 cents per share and $24.9 billion in revenue, though annual revenue fell 3% to $94.8 billion—the first yearly decline in company history. Vehicle sales were weak, with the auto segment dropping 11% in Q4 due to lower deliveries, aging models, and reduced regulatory credit revenue, prompting plans to end production of the Model S and … Continue reading Tesla tops estimates for quarter

Denmark lauds constructive talks with U.S. over Greenland

Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said high-level talks in Washington with the U.S. and Greenland over the island’s future were “very constructive” and that discussions are “back on track.” The talks aimed to resolve tensions sparked by President Donald Trump’s earlier threats to take over Greenland. Rasmussen described the atmosphere as positive and said new meetings are planned, though no final decisions have been … Continue reading Denmark lauds constructive talks with U.S. over Greenland

Starmer and Xi call for deeper UK-China ties as Trump shakes up global relations

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to call for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” aimed at deepening ties amid global uncertainty. Their 80-minute meeting focused on cooperation on issues like climate change and global stability, without directly mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump, though his challenge to the post-Cold War order loomed in the background. The visit comes after years … Continue reading Starmer and Xi call for deeper UK-China ties as Trump shakes up global relations

Klobuchar declares Minnesota governor run

Senator Amy Klobuchar announced she will run for governor of Minnesota after incumbent Tim Walz decided not to seek a third term. In her announcement, she criticized federal immigration enforcement, including recent ICE actions that resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and pledged to remove “abusive” ICE tactics from the state. Klobuchar outlined three guiding principles for her campaign, including standing … Continue reading Klobuchar declares Minnesota governor run

Senate to vote on advancing funding package as Democrats push for ICE reforms

The Senate is set to vote Thursday on a funding package to keep most government agencies open, with a partial shutdown looming this weekend if approval isn’t reached. Democrats are demanding reforms to immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, and they say they will block the package unless the Department of Homeland Security funding is removed. A possible … Continue reading Senate to vote on advancing funding package as Democrats push for ICE reforms

Trump border security chief Homan doubles down on Minnesota operations

Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” signaled a possible shift toward more cooperation with local officials in Minnesota while reaffirming the administration’s aggressive crackdown on undocumented migrants. Speaking amid protests over recent federal enforcement operations, Homan blamed escalations on former President Biden’s policies and local officials, but suggested that collaboration could reduce tensions and allow a “draw down” of federal agents. He emphasized targeted enforcement of … Continue reading Trump border security chief Homan doubles down on Minnesota operations

Driver in custody after car crashes into Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn

A car crashed into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, prompting an NYPD investigation as a possible hate crime. Police saw the vehicle strike the rear door, reverse, and hit it again; no injuries were reported, and the driver was taken into custody. The NYPD Bomb Squad found no explosives, and the Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation. The incident … Continue reading Driver in custody after car crashes into Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn

FBI executes search warrant at election office in Fulton county, Georgia

The FBI executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia, election office on Wednesday, seeking 2020 election ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls as part of an ongoing investigation. County officials initially challenged the legal validity of the warrant, which was later corrected, while concerns were raised about the chain of custody of the seized materials. The investigation relates to alleged criminal … Continue reading FBI executes search warrant at election office in Fulton county, Georgia

Federal judge bars Trump administration from detaining lawful refugees in Minnesota

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from detaining refugees in Minnesota who do not yet have green cards, halting its plan to review thousands of refugee cases under Operation PARRIS. The order came after a legal challenge argued that refugees, already vetted and admitted, cannot be arrested or detained without cause. The judge directed that any refugees currently detained under this policy … Continue reading Federal judge bars Trump administration from detaining lawful refugees in Minnesota

U.S. life expectancy hits a new high, as deaths from overdoses and COVID fall

The average life expectancy for Americans born in 2024 reached 79 years, the highest on record, reflecting recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and declines in drug overdose deaths. This marks an increase of over six months from 2023 and surpasses the previous peak in 2019. While improvements in mortality have benefited many, significant disparities persist across states, racial groups, and income levels, and the U.S. … Continue reading U.S. life expectancy hits a new high, as deaths from overdoses and COVID fall

Federal agents involved in fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis placed on leave

Two federal agents have been placed on leave following the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, an incident that has sparked ongoing protests. President Donald Trump criticized Mayor Jacob Frey, warning he is “playing with fire” after Frey stated that Minneapolis will not enforce federal immigration laws. Frey responded that local police should focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement. In … Continue reading Federal agents involved in fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis placed on leave

Russia hints it will deploy Navy to protect ‘shadow fleet’

Russia’s Maritime Board, led by security official Nikolai Patrushev, has proposed measures to protect Russian shipping and strategic maritime routes, citing alleged violations of international maritime law by “unfriendly” states. The move follows several recent interceptions of Russian oil tankers, including the Fitsburg, Marinera, and Grinch, by Finnish, US, and French authorities. The proposed measures are expected to include naval deployments to safeguard Russian interests, … Continue reading Russia hints it will deploy Navy to protect ‘shadow fleet’

Sicily landslide forces evacuation of 1,500

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Sicilian town of Niscemi after a massive landslide triggered by days of heavy rain destroyed homes and forced more than 1,500 residents to evacuate. The landslide stretched about four kilometers, prompting authorities to create a wide no-go zone as the ground remains dangerously unstable. Civil protection officials warned that many homes near the edge can no longer be … Continue reading Sicily landslide forces evacuation of 1,500

China executes 11 people linked to Myanmar scam operation

China has executed 11 people linked to criminal gangs operating scam centres in Myanmar, including key figures involved in large-scale fraud operations, according to state media. The individuals were sentenced to death in September by a court in Wenzhou for crimes including homicide, unlawful detention, fraud and running illegal casinos. Authorities said the group’s activities, including those of the “Ming family criminal group,” were linked … Continue reading China executes 11 people linked to Myanmar scam operation